Monday, March 19, 2018

Supes Get Divergent Input on Cannabis Ordinance

In packed chamber, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors began discussing its commercial cannabis land use ordinance today and — after a two-hour staff report and hours of public comment — Fifth District Supervisor and Board Chair Ryan Sundberg indicated he’s hopeful the board will adopt the new ordinance when it comes back before the board April 10.

The board also agreed to extend the county’s comment period on the new policy, agreeing to accept comments on the ordinance, which aims to replace the county’s existing cannabis policy and regulate the local industry in concert with California’s new recreational framework, and its accompanying environmental impact report until March 28. (Comments can be emailed to Planning Director John Ford at JFord@co.humboldt.ca.us.)

But the board hardly discussed what promises to be one of the more controversial elements of the planning department’s proposal — which is to pass a separate resolution capping the number of cannabis cultivation permits issued in the county.

Today’s meeting featured widely divergent public comment, with some speakers largely complimentary of the draft policy and its environmental impact report, and others seeking large-scale changes or lambasting the environmental study as inadequate or flawed.

Check back for a more thorough story detailing today’s meeting and see past coverage of the draft ordinance here and here.